Soccer Shorts: Ramsgate star Gregory gets on his bike for Thanet schoolkids

Friday 11th December 2009

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UPDATED: 14:00

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Andy Hessenthaler hopes his side travel well as they meet their Blue Square Southrivals Havant & Waterlooville in the first round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy tomorrow.

Dover Athletic are in second place in the table (with 37 points from 21 games) whilst their hosts sit in fourteenth place with eleven fewer points.

"It’s another tough game, our third away game in a row," Hessenthaler told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"They have a good team and manager, but it’s a game we will go and try and win and one we are not scared off.

"It would be nice to get a cup run."

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says he is relishing the underdog tag for their FA Carlsberg Trophy clash against Eastbourne Borough.

The east Sussex side are presently in the bottom five of the Blue Square Premier table - only 16 places above the Wings in the football pyramid, and Day, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk says his side has nothing to lose.

"It’s a good game for the club and we’re looking forward to it," said Day.

"Eastbourne are struggling in their league and we’ll have a good go. We’ve got nothing to lose. We’re the underdogs for the game. As long as they give me what they’re showing me so far, I think it will be a decent game.

"I know the club, I know the manager as I was there for a month, it’s a nice set-up and a good club and as long as we give 100% it will be a good day."

FORMER Tonbridge Angels defender Leon Legge has agreed a contract extension tieing him to Brenford until June 2011.

The 24-year-old centre-half, who joined the Bees from Tonbridge Angels in the summer, has impressed in the first half of the club's League One campaign.

Legge has only played six matches for Brentford but he has started the Bees' last three games.

"Leon has improved since he's been with us and has the potential to improve," said Brentford boss Andy Scott.

"We were pleased to extend his contract, which was for one year with a year's option, until the end of next season," he told the club’s website.

Legge spent two seasons with Lewes before moving to Tonbridge in the summer of 2008, spending a year there before being snapped up by Brentford in July.

The central defender scored his first goal for the club a fortnight ago, hitting the matchwinner in the 1-0 victory against Walsall which fired Brentford through to the third round of the FA Cup.

RAMSGATE star James Gregory has launched his B KOOL BIKE 2 SKOOL project, which is aimed at keeping young people safer whilst on the roads by being more visible and having a better understanding of how to keep their wheels turning.

"We all know the importance of being seen on the roads, especially in the winter," Gregory told www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk. "But getting young people to wear the high vis vests or waistcoats is just not going to happen!

"Seeing the kids riding home from school in their dark coats with no lights or anything high vis on really scares me, so I thought something had to be done.

"Everyone knows that the high visibility jackets/vests are not seen as cool or young people friendly. That's why I've introduced this product; as we know young people feel at home in the hoody!

"I want young people to feel confident about taking travelling into their own hands, and that's why my team mates and I want to see the kids of Thanet riding around in these hoodies.

"We want to tell them that it's cool to be seen, (especially on the roads) and in these hoodies the young people will definitely be seen!"

Gregory understands that parents could be nervous about letting their child bike to school, so he thought these hoodies will go some way to giving parents the peace of mind that everything possible is being done to keep their children safe and seen.

But these hoodies are only one arm of B Kool Bike 2 Skool. James will be going in to schools early next year with qualified bike mechanics to run bike maintenance workshops, so he wants schools to get in touch as he is already taking bookings.

"We want to empower young people to be able to take care of their own bikes, to teach the young people bike maintenance will raise their self esteem and give them confidence in their own life skills," he said.

"If a young person gets a puncture and doesn't know how to fix it, and then has to walk 3 miles home from school in the rain, it's going to put him off riding again.
"We want bike riding to be a positive experience, so that the young people continue to ride their bikes as they grow up.

"We want to ensure we have a positive impact on the next generation, to make sure a healthy lifestyle and the habit of physical activity stays with them as they grow up."

To get a hoody for your child or to book a bike maintenance workshop, contact James on 01843 586358 / 077739 840 717 or email gregory03@sky.com and visit www.bkoolbike2skool.co.uk for more details.

ERITH & BELVEDERE go into tonight’s Kent Senior Trophy home tie against Kent County League highflyers Hollands & Blair with the news that Joe Penny has turned down an official approach from league rivals Sevenoaks Town to stay at Park View Road.

But leading goalscorer Ross Cable decided to quit the club before last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Greenwich Borough; Danny Tipple has left the club to go travelling in Thailand and Adam Cotterll seems to have gone AWOL.

A club statement on much-travelled Cable's departure from Park View Road said, "Ross Cable has left the club by mutual consent as he and the management team couldn’t agree on the players role at the club.

“His registration has been released by the club and he is free to join another club if he so desires. We’re sure that Ross will very soon be snapped up by someone and we would like to thank Ross for his efforts this season and look forward to meeting up with him again somewhere soon.”

ERITH TOWN are pleased to have re-signed Kevin George, whilst Tony Prime joins the club as goalkeeper coach.

Ex Docker George, who played in the Premier Cup Final win in his previous spell, has re-signed for the club. The former Charlton youth was previously with Holmesdale.

Goalkeeping coach Prime brings a lot of experience to his role with the club and has previously worked with manager Steve O'Boyle, when O'Boyle had a brief spell on the management team at Holmesdale. Prime has also served Croydon and Lingfield amongst other clubs.

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Simon Jones has made two signings ahead of their Bulmers Cider Kent League trip to Corinthian tomorrow.

Former Sevenoaks favourite, striker, Tony Atkins and Badar Mohammed have joined the Greatness Park club.

"It's been a frantic few days, but I am really chuffed about getting Tony," Jones told www.sevenoakstownfc.org.

"We have beaten off a couple of other clubs to get him."

Atkins scored twice for Bromley based club Holmesdale during their 3-0 win at Sporting Bengal United last Saturday, but the pair were released this week.

Both have played against Sevenoaks twice already this season, Atkins scoring in Sevenoaks’ 4-3 away win September, and the 2-1 home victory last month.

Commenting on both signings, Jones added: "The opportunity came about to move for them, and they are good additions to the squad and more competition for places."

Meanwhile, skipper Danny Ward, booked against Faversham Town last Saturday, has been given a one match ban for five yellow cards, and sits out the trip to Gay Dawn Farm.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS have unveiled the signing of Tom Davey from Ryman League side Chatham Town.

Manager Martin Larkin, speaking to www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk, says he has beaten stiff competition to land the player, who can play as a left-winger or left-back.

"We are delighted to have beaten off a couple of clubs to sign him," said Larkin.

"Having spoken to the Chatham Town secretary they are upset to lose him, but his current work commitments make the extra travelling needed in the Ryman League difficult for him.

"Tom has an exceptional youth record, including playing for England Schoolboys - and he will add a real quality to our side.

"His Ryman League experience will be valuable to the team, and he is a left footed player, so he should add some further balance to the side. He also has great passing ability.

"I hope supporters will all join me in welcoming him to the club when they get the opportunity."

As well as playing for Chatham and England Schoolboys (Under 18 level), during his time at University, Davey also played for Nuneaton Borough.